Embrocation Cycling Journalhttp://embrocationmagazine.com
Embrocation Cycling JournalFri, 31 Jul 2015 16:55:14 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Tour de France 2015 – Best of the onboard camerashttp://embrocationmagazine.com/tour-de-france-2015-best-of-the-onboard-cameras/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/tour-de-france-2015-best-of-the-onboard-cameras/#commentsFri, 31 Jul 2015 16:53:09 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=2106You might have missed this little 3 week race they have in France every July, it’s new and its in Europe so nobody will blame you if you haven’t heard of The Tour de France. I didn’t really pay attention until day three when there was the massive crash – the crash itself didn’t get […]

You might have missed this little 3 week race they have in France every July, it’s new and its in Europe so nobody will blame you if you haven’t heard of The Tour de France. I didn’t really pay attention until day three when there was the massive crash – the crash itself didn’t get my attention – the GoPro chesty action on one of Orica Greenedge‘s mechanics did. It’s an amazing and brutal video that really paints a somber TOTALLY METAL picture of just how dangerous and difficult racing bikes is.

The media company that was putting onboard cameras on all the bikes, Velon, put together a Best Of compilation on Youtube. With the recent “changing of the guard” at the UCI, my hopes are renewed for the future of bike racing. Enjoy.

]]>http://embrocationmagazine.com/tour-de-france-2015-best-of-the-onboard-cameras/feed/0Gaulzetti Corsa – Embro Editionhttp://embrocationmagazine.com/gaulzetti-corsa-embro-edition/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/gaulzetti-corsa-embro-edition/#commentsWed, 29 Jul 2015 23:00:29 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=1985We did a small run of Gaulzetti frames over the winter, and the last few are rolling in. Unchanged in manufacture, the Gaulzetti Corsa – Embro Edition was all about the finish. We removed the Wallonian Rooster that’s long been a staple of Gaulzetti, threw on some moka pots, and tossed in a bunch of […]

We did a small run of Gaulzetti frames over the winter, and the last few are rolling in. Unchanged in manufacture, the Gaulzetti Corsa – Embro Edition was all about the finish. We removed the Wallonian Rooster that’s long been a staple of Gaulzetti, threw on some moka pots, and tossed in a bunch of matching bits from Chris King to pull it all together.

This particular example is Belgian Blue with Navy logos, gold Chris King everything, Shimano Ultegra 6800, and a Fizik cockpit to finish it off. A hard-edged race machine but currently rolling on 27c Vittoria Pave tires, this bike was meant to be ridden hard and put away wet.

After riding a number of bikes with the new 11sp Ultegra group, we’re hard-pressed to justify Dura-Ace to anyone but the most weight-obsessed out there. Performance is phenomenal and we at Embro HQ tend to prefer the grey finish as compared to Dura-Ace’s polished/black.

Recently Gaulzetti made a production change, using the same proprietary tubeset but now built by Kelly Bedford. This adds a long history to the technology behind every Gaulzetti, combining Kelly’s career in frame building with Gaulzetti’s famous geometry and tubes.

Unfortunately we only have a few more of these in the pipeline as the Embro Edition project has ended. Fortunately, the ones in process are all also going to be incredible. Stay tuned….

]]>http://embrocationmagazine.com/gaulzetti-corsa-embro-edition/feed/0Everything’s Coming Up Rosiehttp://embrocationmagazine.com/everythings-coming-up-rosie/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/everythings-coming-up-rosie/#commentsTue, 28 Jul 2015 14:26:27 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=2096Everything’s coming up Rosie, you see, this dude is winning races on steel. His previous connection to Specialized is pretty obvious in the build, he used to run a major portion of Special-Ed’s demo fleet. So, when it was time to build his new mountain bike for 12 Hours of Oregon in Bend this summer […]

Everything’s coming up Rosie, you see, this dude is winning races on steel. His previous connection to Specialized is pretty obvious in the build, he used to run a major portion of Special-Ed’s demo fleet. So, when it was time to build his new mountain bike for 12 Hours of Oregon in Bend this summer he paired his new Cielo 29er frame up with a bunch of product from The Big S.

Rosie used his industry connections built over the years to get this thing up and running just in time for his mid-July race, and good thing. Well, good thing for him, not for his competition. Rosie left Bend with a big W under his belt in the Open Solo 12h division this year, completing 10 laps of the course, 2nd and 3rd place rolling through the line “only” 7 times.

Steel most certainly is still real, Rosie went out and proved that for 12 straight hours of racing.

]]>http://embrocationmagazine.com/everythings-coming-up-rosie/feed/0A Genius Buildhttp://embrocationmagazine.com/genius-build/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/genius-build/#commentsTue, 21 Jul 2015 03:41:41 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=2052Industry bikes can be funny sometimes. When you work in the bike industry certain, lets call them “connections”, come to be and those relationships build. Then, when it’s time to build your next bike, you recall the people with whom you’ve done some back scratching and decide to get that itch scratched for yourself. Jeff […]

Industry bikes can be funny sometimes. When you work in the bike industry certain, lets call them “connections”, come to be and those relationships build. Then, when it’s time to build your next bike, you recall the people with whom you’ve done some back scratching and decide to get that itch scratched for yourself.

Jeff had a very typical industry experience in that way with this frame, but the result was extremely atypical. It’s very common for us lowly industry folk to have a number of mismatched parts, some of it top-notch gear from our buddies and some of it parts-bin specials. This bike is not that way.

Every bolt, every component, carefully chosen to create what our buddy Jeff wanted. This build began with a Columbus Genius frame which quickly went into the Cielo paint booth for it’s beautiful coat of red paint. You see, that’s more of Jeff’s industry connection: Cielo doesn’t paint for just anyone, they have plenty to do already. But, Jeff “knows a guy.”

Once the paint was laid, a Campagnolo Chorus group was chosen. Jeff is a Campy diehard, we’re not quite sure why (I jest), but it was a great call for this frame. Thomson rounds out the cockpit, another great choice.

Finally, we come to the wheels. These are what King refers to as the Carbon Race Climb. Here’s another pro to being in the industry, Jeff has a bevy of wheels to choose from, a quiver he can race hard then hang up, without dropping the coin the rest of us do.

Clearly a product of a lot of planning and effort, this Italian frame and gruppo really work nicely with American cockpit and wheels. I don’t really like red bikes, but I like this red bike….

]]>http://embrocationmagazine.com/genius-build/feed/0Stockist :: Halcyonhttp://embrocationmagazine.com/stockist-halcyon/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/stockist-halcyon/#commentsSat, 06 Jun 2015 04:01:46 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=1998We’re proud to bring Halcyon Bike Shop into the Embrocation Family as a stockist of our journal. Founded in 2008 in Nashville, they’ve been voted Best Bicycle Shop in 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014 in Nashville Scene’s Reader Poll. A little background direct from the source: Halcyon Bike Shop is a worker owned and operated […]

We’re proud to bring Halcyon Bike Shop into the Embrocation Family as a stockist of our journal. Founded in 2008 in Nashville, they’ve been voted Best Bicycle Shop in 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014 in Nashville Scene’s Reader Poll.

A little background direct from the source:

Halcyon Bike Shop is a worker owned and operated used bicycle shop in the 12 South District of Nashville, TN. We are committed to serving all of Nashville with quality products and service at affordable prices.

At the core of Halcyon Bike are recycled and restored custom used bikes. Every year, Americans throw away used bicycles and spend thousands of dollars on new bicycles. At Halcyon Bike, we find these thrown out bikes, restore and customize them, and sell them to you at a fraction of the price of most new bikes. Select used frames are also available at Halcyon Bike; we will help you build a frame into a beautiful custom bicycle. Halcyon Bike also has a full bike service and repair shop, committed to providing the best service and experience for both bicycle and customer.

Everyone at Halcyon shares a passion for bikes. That is why we strive to serve all types of riders, bicycles, and interests. To help others who share our passion, Halcyon provides a community work bench that anyone is welcome to use. Here you will find a full set of tools and work stands, everything you need to repair your bicycle on your own. We also rent bikes; we have City Bikes and tandems available!

In addition to bicycle sales and repair, Halcyon Bike is dedicated to the sale of local and handmade goods. We are proud to showcase both bike-related and unrelated items, including clothing, bags, small accessories, home goods, art, local music, and more. If you are interested in selling your handmade goods at Halcyon Bike, please contact us.

Halcyon Bike is excited to be partnering with the Oasis Center for the Halcyon Bike Workshop, a co-op bike shop open to Nashville’s youth. The Workshop teaches teens bike repair, maintenance and safety. Each teen is eligible to earn a free bicycle in exchange for their participation in the program. We are currently accepting bicycle donations for this program. Any type of bike in any condition is appreciated. You can contact us or just drop your donation off at the shop during business hours.

We believe that strong communities are fundamental to creating a better future. That is why we strive to be a communal space for progressive living. In order to see society improve and grow, we as individuals must make steps everyday to live responsibly. Riding bikes is a fun, easy way for everyone to live better. Come to the shop and say hello, we are very nice and want to be friends.

]]>http://embrocationmagazine.com/stockist-halcyon/feed/0Geekhouse x Cuppow CXhttp://embrocationmagazine.com/geekhouse-x-cuppow-cx/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/geekhouse-x-cuppow-cx/#commentsTue, 26 May 2015 19:27:56 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=1940 Originally created by and posted on CycleEXIF, we had to share this gem. Geekhouse x Cuppow CX No doubt you’ve seen the Geekhouse squad rolling around the CX circuit all fall, but this article dives a bit into what’s happening behind the scenes. Cuppow may or may not be a new name to you, but […]

Originally created by and posted on CycleEXIF, we had to share this gem.

Geekhouse x Cuppow CX

No doubt you’ve seen the Geekhouse squad rolling around the CX circuit all fall, but this article dives a bit into what’s happening behind the scenes. Cuppow may or may not be a new name to you, but is one worth checking out.

Check out this article/interview to learn more about the team:

Marty Walsh’s Geekhouse Bikes may very well be the funnest custom bike brand out there. Instantly recognisable by their eye-searing paint schemes, they can be spotted on terrains all over the world but they are perhaps most prolific on the cyclocross circuits.

Geekhouse are based in Boston, MA, which is also home to Cuppow, an innovative lid that turns a canning jar into a travel mug. Dedicated to promoting a low-impact life, Cuppow were drawn to Geekhouse through similar values and have since developed the Geekhouse x Cuppow CX team.

The Cuppow lid was designed by Joshua Resnikoff and Aaron Panone — whose name might not be familiar but you’ll definitely recognise another of his products: his 44RN chainrings have been installed on some pretty high-profile bikes, and their high level of engineering blew us all away.

Cycle EXIF caught up with Cuppow’s Greg Ralich to find out more about the colourfully collaborative Geekhouse x Cuppow CX team:

How long has the Team been running now?3 Years. This Fall will be our fourth year sponsoring the team.

How did the Team come about, what did the original conversations consist of?Looking for alternatives to traditional advertising. Wanting to support another small business. We’ve been friends with Geekhouse since way back when.

We thought that displaying support of a sport, and a lifestyle, was way more effective for conveying what we’re about than any traditional marketing avenue. Luckily, it worked!

The Team kits are a graphic explosion of stripes, patterns and colours, and are some of the most noticeable in the world. What drew you to the work of Adria Klora?Definitely her work on the Golden Saddle Cyclery kits. Those are just legendary. Everything she has done is so original.

Why did Cuppow decide to sponsor a team?We always wanted to do things differently – this was just another step down that road.

You’ve long been supporters of the custom scene. Which have been your favourite builds?SUCH a good question. Gotta give it up to the obvious – Firefly and Geekhouse, but to me – the shining star in the Boston custom cycling scene is Royal H Cycles. No instagram account, no problem. (Bryan Hollingsworth has very recently, however, joined Instagram — Ed)

Cuppow co-founder Aaron owns a Tomii townie, a 02143 Indy Fab, and has a new Geekhouse. My personal favorite ride these days has been my fat bike but I have a few builds in process this spring that will surely yield a very fun summer.

What do you like about the Mudville?Geekhouse made something really special with the Mudville. I remember the first blue Team Mudvilles, and the team was a very different shape then, but the ability to recognize them anywhere on the course is the thing that’s has stayed the same all these years.

What’s funny is – it’s actually only gotten harder as big brands have noticed that the exciting colour schemes were doing well and fun and popular in the custom scene and you see things like Trek and Specialized frames using very similar colour schemes.

I mean – all of this really goes back to Fat City but Geekhouse and the Mudville specifically really put that scheme in front of a new generation of riders. Those who picked up city riding in the late 2000’s – that’s who is filling up the CX fields now and it’s a really cool evolution.

What’s in store for Cuppow and the Geekhouse team?For the past few years we’ve moved towards sponsoring elite riders, so in New England that’s Cat 1/2. These guys can shred. They’ve been riding bikes in New England for years and by teaming up with the B2C2 cycling squad our support can go a lot further.

Cuppow is a small business so we’re not in it to micro-manage anything, we’ve got full plates. But we want to see those who are great ambassadors of the sport have everything they need to race and excel. We’ve got some special plans this year (top secret per Captain Walsh’s orders) that I think people will love to see debuted come the end of summer.

With those bold kits and hot bikes, it will be hard not to keep an eye on the team this season. Special thanks to Greg from Cuppow for his time. Team Mudville photo credit: Blue Lug

]]>http://embrocationmagazine.com/geekhouse-x-cuppow-cx/feed/0Made of Steel – Field Cycleshttp://embrocationmagazine.com/made-of-steel/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/made-of-steel/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 01:41:39 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=1913Made of Steel – Field Cycles from Walker Creative on Vimeo. Made of Steel This one just came to us from our friends at Field Cycles, based in Sheffield. We’ve been fans from a distance for a few years, and more recently up close and personal as they’ve sent us some of their builds for […]

This one just came to us from our friends at Field Cycles, based in Sheffield. We’ve been fans from a distance for a few years, and more recently up close and personal as they’ve sent us some of their builds for our Bespoke Builds column.

]]>http://embrocationmagazine.com/made-of-steel/feed/0On the Course – Gorge Roubaixhttp://embrocationmagazine.com/on-the-course-gorge-roubaix/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/on-the-course-gorge-roubaix/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 18:57:09 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=1907On the Course – Gorge Roubaix A bit spur of the moment, we loaded up the car and departed Portland on Sunday morning headed toward The Dalles to ride Gorge Roubaix. With no desire to race, we followed along the short Gorge Gravel Grinder route, which ended up being the right choice. Starting in downtown […]

A bit spur of the moment, we loaded up the car and departed Portland on Sunday morning headed toward The Dalles to ride Gorge Roubaix. With no desire to race, we followed along the short Gorge Gravel Grinder route, which ended up being the right choice.

Starting in downtown The Dalles we were welcomed with 70* and sun. We rolled east for a few miles before heading south on the small loop. The first 15 miles or so were rolling and on chip seal roads that were virtually traffic-free. Passing farms, cattle, and a number of chasing dogs who just wanted to say hello, we meandered south toward the start of the gravel.

At this point the road pointed up, though not excessively steep. 5-8% seemed to go on forever, and only a couple of miles in the climb turned to gravel. Further up we went, and at roughly mile 25 we hit the top and were rewarded with views of Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens.

After all of that work, climbing nearly 3000′, down we went. For approximately 7 miles we descended, much of that also on gravel. Though slightly loose, the gravel didn’t lead to feelings of being out of control, and only slight braking was needed on the tightest of turns. Otherwise, it was all out, tucked in, eye-watering fun.

The final few miles wound along the Columbia River back into The Dalles dropped down a few hundred more feet of gorgeous views.

Fortunately we were welcomed with some amazing tacos in The Dalles to wrap up an incredible ride.

You can find the route here and here, my Garmin died part way through. Womp, womp.

]]>http://embrocationmagazine.com/on-the-course-gorge-roubaix/feed/0Gaulzetti Corsa LTD Turquoise Editionhttp://embrocationmagazine.com/gaulzetti-corsa-ltd-turquoise-edition/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/gaulzetti-corsa-ltd-turquoise-edition/#commentsWed, 25 Mar 2015 05:05:53 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=1890Gaulzetti Corsa LTD Turquoise Edition Rarely do I take the time to shoot my own bikes. I wish I were as handy with my camera as some of our contributors, but I make due with what little knowledge I have and the second-hand equipment I pick up from our photographers as they upgrade. Fortunately I […]

I wish I were as handy with my camera as some of our contributors, but I make due with what little knowledge I have and the second-hand equipment I pick up from our photographers as they upgrade.

Fortunately I get models like this, which make anyone a better photographer. A Gaulzetti Corsa in pearl white with Belgian Blue logos, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, and a new set of ENVE SES 3.4 wheels laced to turquoise Chris King R45 hubs.

Like any good bike owner, I ensured my King bits matched, which meant turquoise found it’s way onto the headset as well. The bottom bracket is a Parlee unit, it just won’t die so I can’t bring myself to pull it out of the frame. All in due time I guess.

One bit on this bike you’ll rarely see on other Corsas we build is the PMP topper. It’s a great piece of kit but so.hard.to.get. And expensive. But, you know, I had to have it.

Anyway, this one is my rolling test bed for gear that comes through Embro HQ, and you’ll notice it’s currently sporting a Speedsleev with a rain cover. A lot more to come on that, but suffice it to say, #highandtight is everything it’s cracked up to be.

]]>http://embrocationmagazine.com/gaulzetti-corsa-ltd-turquoise-edition/feed/0Reach for the Dream with Manual for Speedhttp://embrocationmagazine.com/reach-for-the-dream-with-manual-for-speed/
http://embrocationmagazine.com/reach-for-the-dream-with-manual-for-speed/#commentsTue, 24 Mar 2015 17:26:58 +0000http://embrocationmagazine.com/?p=1869Do you dream? Of course you do, who doesn’t? But how often do your dreams come true? They’re just dreams after all. Have you ever thought, “Hey, I am sick and tired of my dreams just being dreams? I want these dreams to be a reality, but how could I possibly do it?” You have […]

Do you dream? Of course you do, who doesn’t? But how often do your dreams come true? They’re just dreams after all. Have you ever thought, “Hey, I am sick and tired of my dreams just being dreams? I want these dreams to be a reality, but how could I possibly do it?” You have to want it, you have to understand it, and then you have to REACH FOR THE DREAM! And we’re here to help. That’s right; you want to make that magical-rainbow-laser-unicorn-tropical-island-melting-clocks-brilliant-light-bouncing-off-of-the-floors-hyper-everything bike ofyour dreams a reality? We know how! With our proven process you can have that bike of your dreams, so join Manual for Speed and special guest Kanye West as we walk you through the necessary steps to making all your dreams come true!

Beginning at 12:01 AM PDT, Tuesday March 24th, visitManual for Speed to understand exactly what you need to do in order to Reach for the Dream.